15 Great Ways to Invest in the 5G Rollout

5G wireless networks are just that: the fifth generation of cellular technology, which in its simplest terms means using cell sites to transmit radio waves that carry data.

5G is game-changing because of its ability to move far more data at a much greater speed than its predecessors, critical to the ever-expanding use of mobile and other internet-enabled devices.

Vast amounts of time, brainpower, and money are being poured into the 5G rollout now underway across much of the globe. Here are some ways to get some of your own cash into the game.

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A major difference between 5G and 4G is that 5G relies on small cell sites on roofs and buildings rather than the traditional tall towers that carry phone calls and more across vast distances. Buildings of less than 50 feet can accommodate them, and the owners can charge anywhere from $50 to $500 a month for the space, according to websites that cover this space.

The Fidelity MSCI Communications Services Index ETF (NYSEMKT:FCOM) is an exchange-traded fund that tracks an index of companies involved in communications services, including major media companies and mobile carriers. Fidelity's stock is currently selling for about $36 a share with a dividend yield of about 1.2%.

ALSO READ: How to Invest in ETFs for Beginners

AT&T (NYSE:T) is one of America’s largest providers of wireless voice and data communications services, selling access to its cellular network and devices through its stores and third-party sellers under the AT&T and Cricket brands.

Like its competition, AT&T is heavily marketing its 5G availability as that capability expands. AT&T is also an accomplished dividend payer, currently yielding about 5.4% and trading for about $21 a share.

ALSO READ: Investing in 5G Stocks

Corning (NYSE:GLW) has been around since the 1850s. The historic glassmaker has evolved with the times, expanding from fiber optic cables carrying signals into solutions that help establish the connectivity small cell nodes need to communicate. Corning has also grown its dividend every year for the past 13 years, yielding about 3.3% at a share price of about $34.

For about $170 a share -- around half of what it cost last fall -- you can buy into Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA), a major producer of graphics processing units (GPUs) used in cryptocurrency mining, gaming, and other applications expected to grow with the expansion of 5G.

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Speaking of fiber optics and 5G small cell nodes, Crown Castle International (NYSE:CCI) -- which already owns about 40,000 tall towers -- is moving heavily into small cell antenna installations and expanding an existing network of more than 80,000 miles of optic fiber cables. Crown Castle is a real estate investment trust (REIT) priced at about $173 a share and yielding about 3.4% after seven straight years of dividend hikes.

ALSO READ: Real Estate Investment Trusts: What They Are and How to Invest in Them

American Tower (NYSE:AMT) is an 800-pound gorilla among cell tower operators and REITs alike. This company's stock has been a legendary performer, growing with the industry while turning a $10,000 investment into about $1.1 million in 20 years.

Yes, Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) is a 5G play, too. Accommodating the higher speeds and larger bandwidth available from 5G networks is critical for Apple to continue its longtime global leadership in mobile phones and tablets. Count on them to respond accordingly and help grow the technology along the way.

ALSO READ: 3 Reasons Why Apple Stock is a Buy

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) joins AT&T in dominating the domestic mobile carrier market while growing its own 5G network in all its permutations and complications. Verizon stock is also a passive income machine, with a share price of about $50 powering a yield of about 5% after 18 straight years of dividend increases.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) -- the company formerly known as Facebook -- is working on building out the metaverse that will require the kind of robust 5G connectivity to perform as anticipated. One of its partners in this is the aforementioned Verizon.

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The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) is a 5G play thusly: Streaming entertainment and sports content is already huge and expected to grow along with the ability of wireless networks to accommodate it. Disney owns Disney+ and ABC and ESPN and … you get the picture. Not only that, but you can buy a piece of the Mouse for about the same share price as five years ago.

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Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) is the pioneer of computer chipmaking and is now providing embedded technologies to create 5G networks that can support myriad users of the cloud, Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence solutions. Intel also is a solid dividend stock, with eight years of increases that have the yield sitting at about 3.8% at a share price of about $40.

T-Mobile US (NASDAQ:TMUS) is the other of the big three mobile carriers in the U.S., with more than 100 million users of its voice, messaging, and data services. The company also has a growing portfolio of about 40,000 small cell/distributed antenna sites, the kind of gear needed to handle the expansion of 5G connectivity through buildings and around cities.

Ciena (NYSE:CIEN) is a great example of a 5G infrastructure stock. The company produces telecommunications networking software and hardware, including routers and analytics-driven automation solutions. They also provide consulting services to help implement 5G-ready network architectures on an enterprise level.

The IoT refers to those growing billions of devices in homes, offices, hospitals -- you name it -- connected by wireless technologies, which increasingly include 5G. The Global X Internet of Things ETF (NASDAQ:SNSR) invests in companies developing IoT technologies, giving investors a way to buy about 45 of those companies at a time.

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5G-Enabled wireless technology just digs deeper into daily life -- Might as well join in

The proliferation of wireless technology at home, work, school, and everywhere in between is relentless and appears endless. Now is a good time to invest in ways that make sense to you. It'll make you money now and help you get ready for 6G, which is already under development.

Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Marc Rapport has positions in Crown Castle International and Intel. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends American Tower, Apple, Crown Castle International, Intel, Meta Platforms, Inc., Nvidia, and Walt Disney. The Motley Fool recommends Corning, T-Mobile US, and Verizon Communications and recommends the following options: long January 2023 $57.50 calls on Intel, long January 2024 $145 calls on Walt Disney, long March 2023 $120 calls on Apple, short January 2023 $57.50 puts on Intel, short January 2024 $155 calls on Walt Disney, and short March 2023 $130 calls on Apple. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.